Electric hair straightening and waving iron

ABSTRACT

A first jaw is fixed to the handle of the iron, with a second heated jaw and clamp connected by a pivot to the first jaw. Complementary flat surfaces on the first and second jaws allow hair to be straightened therebetween and complementary curved faces on the clamp and second jaw provide for hair held therebetween to be waved. Both jaws and the clamp have apertures in which a latch is received. The latch is moveable substantially parallel to the transverse axis of the pivot between a first position for connecting the second jaw and the clamp together for pivoting relative to the first jaw and a second position, for connecting the first and second jaws together, while permitting relative pivoting of the clamp.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to heated irons having jaws between which hair can be clamped for straightening, and a clamp for holding hair wound about the closed jaws for waving, and particularly to irons having a locking mechanism for locking the jaws together in this waving configuration.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The applicant's pending application Ser. No. 11/484,665 describes a styling iron of the above type, having one jaw rigidly fixed to the handle and another jaw pivotally fixed to the handle, both jaws having unheated tips. A locking mechanism is mounted on the tips for locking the jaws together in a waving configuration. This locking mechanism is satisfactory, however there is a need for an iron having a locking mechanism mounted on or adjacent the handle. Advantageously such an iron should be economical to manufacture and have a minimum number of simple parts.

In the hair styling iron of U.S. Pat. No. 6,667,462 a heated fixed jaw is fastened to the handle, with a pivoting jaw and clamp joined by a hinge to the fixed jaw. A thumb lever fixed to the clamp allows the clamp to be opened against spring pressure to clasp hair between the clamp and an outer face of the pivoting jaw. By operating a latching mechanism the clamp and pivoting jaw can be latched together, such that pressing the thumb lever pivots them simultaneously, allowing hair to be clasped between opposing inner faces of the two jaws. The latching mechanism is rather complicated and costly to manufacture, requiring a latch extending into a keyhole-shaped aperture in the clamp and connected by a linkage for remote actuation using an actuator on the handle.

WO 2006/044570 describes an iron having a pair of heated jaws between which hair can be clamped for straightening, and a clamp for holding hair wound about the closed jaws for waving. A locking mechanism is provided locking the clamp to a pivoting jaw, such that the clamp and jaw pivot together in a straightening configuration and releasing the clamp from the pivoting jaw in the waving configuration. The locking mechanism however does not lock the jaws closed together in the waving configuration. It is an object of the present invention to meet the above needs and overcome the above disadvantages or more generally to provide an improved hair straightening and waving iron.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect the invention provides a hair styling iron comprising:

a handle; first and second elongate jaws having respective inner and outer faces, the inner faces being of complementary shape and facing one another, at least one of the jaws being heated; a clamp having a clamp face of complementary shape to, and presented toward, the outer face of the second jaw; a transversely-extending pivot connecting the second jaw and clamp to the first jaw for independent pivoting of the second jaw and clamp relative to the first jaw and handle; latch apertures in the first jaw, second jaw and clamp; a latch received in the latch apertures, the latch being moveable transversely between a first position and a second position, buttons on transversely opposing sides of the handle for moving the latch; wherein in the first position the latch connects the second jaw and the clamp for pivoting the second jaw and the clamp together relative to the first jaw; and in the second position the latch connects the first and second jaws together, while permitting relative pivoting of the clamp.

The buttons thus allow for direct manual operation of the latch and may be formed on the ends of the latch or may abut the ends of the latch.

The apertures in the first jaw and clamp are slotted, each having a narrow portion opening into a wide portion, and the latch is elongate having at least one waist which in the first and second positions may be received in the narrow portion of the aperture in the first jaw and clamp respectively.

The latch has a cylindrical outer latch face and the aperture in the second jaw and the wide portion of each slotted aperture have complementary cylindrical surfaces.

Preferably the inner faces of the jaws are substantially flat. In this manner, with the pivot in the first position hair can be clamped between the jaws for straightening. The outer faces of the jaws are preferably convex and the clamp face concave such that with the pivot in the second position hair wound about both jaws can be held against the jaws by the clamp for waving.

Preferably the first jaw is rigidly fixed to the handle, and further including a spring biasing the clamp toward the first jaw, the clamp having a lever portion on the opposite side of the pivot from the clamp surface, such that pressing the lever portion toward the handle pivots the clamp face away from the first jaw.

The iron preferably further comprises a spring biasing the pivot to one of the first and second positions, the detent including a slider fixed in a slot in the handle, the slider having an outer side configured to be manually engaged and an opposing inner side for engaging the pivot, the inner side including a ramp inclined to the axis of the pivot for moving the pivot axially.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a hair styling iron comprising:

a handle; a first jaw connected to the handle and having elongate inner and outer faces and a first jaw aperture with at least one keyway portion therein; a second jaw having elongate inner and outer faces and a second jaw aperture with at least one keyway portion therein, at least one of the jaws being heated; a clamp having an elongate clamp face and a clamp aperture with at least one keyway portion therein; a pivot received in the apertures for pivotally connecting the second jaw and clamp to the first jaw such that the inner faces of the jaws are facing one another and the clamp face is presented toward the outer face of the second jaw, the pivot having axially spaced key portions of complementary shape to the keyway portions, the pivot being moveable substantially parallel to a pivot axis of the pivot between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position the key portions on the pivot engage the keyway portions on the second jaw and the clamp for connecting the second jaw and the clamp together for pivoting relative to the first jaw; and in the second position the key portions on the pivot engage the keyway portions on the first jaw and second jaw for connecting the first and second jaws together while permitting relative pivoting of the clamp.

It will be understood that, alternatively, the keyway portions may be provided in the pivot, with complementary key portions in the apertures.

Therefore in yet another aspect the invention provides a hair styling iron comprising:

a handle; first and second elongate jaws connected to the handle, the jaws having respective inner and outer faces, at least one of the jaws being heated; a pivot mounting the second jaw for pivoting relative to the handle such that the inner faces are facing one another, the pivot being movable substantially parallel to an axis of the pivot between a first position and a second position; a clamp mounted to the handle by the pivot, the clamp having an clamp face presented toward the outer face of the second jaw, and key faces on the pivot for engaging complementary key faces on the first jaw, second jaw and clamp; wherein in the first position the key faces on the pivot engage the key faces on the second jaw and the clamp for connecting the second jaw and the clamp together for pivoting relative to the first jaw; and in the second position the key faces on the pivot engage the key faces on the first jaw and second jaw for connecting the first and second jaws together, while permitting relative pivoting of the clamp.

Preferably the iron further includes a detent for holding the pivot in the first position and second position.

Preferably the inner faces of the jaws are substantially flat. In this manner, with the pivot in the first position hair can be clamped between the jaws for straightening. The outer faces of the jaws are preferably convex and the clamp face concave such that with the pivot in the second position hair wound about both jaws can be held against the jaws by the clamp for waving.

Preferably the first jaw is rigidly fixed to the handle, and further including a spring biasing the clamp toward the first jaw, the clamp having a lever portion on the opposite side of the pivot from the clamp surface, such that pressing the lever portion toward the handle pivots the clamp face away from the first jaw.

The iron preferably further comprises a spring biasing the pivot to one of the first and second positions, the detent including a slider fixed in a slot in the handle, the slider having an outer side configured to be manually engaged and an opposing inner side for engaging the pivot, the inner side including a ramp inclined to the axis of the pivot for moving the pivot axially.

This invention provides a hair straightening and waving iron with a locking mechanism for locking the jaws together which is effective and efficient in operational use, and which has an overall simple design and a small number of parts which minimizes manufacturing costs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred forms of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of a hair styling iron according to a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a pictorial view of the styling iron of FIG. 1 in a straightening configuration;

FIG. 3 is a pictorial view of the styling iron of FIG. 1 in a curling configuration;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the parts connected by the pivot of the iron of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a pictorial view of the latch of the iron of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal section in an upright plane through the iron of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a transverse cross section AA of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a scrap section along line BB of FIG. 6 showing a straightening configuration;

FIG. 9 is shows the view of FIG. 8 in a curling configuration;

FIG. 10 is a pictorial view of a hair styling iron according to a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 11 is a pictorial view of the styling iron of FIG. 10 in a straightening configuration;

FIG. 12 is a pictorial view of the styling iron of FIG. 10 in a curling configuration;

FIG. 13 is an exploded view of the parts connected by the pivot of the iron of FIG. 10;

FIG. 14 is a pictorial view of the pivot of the iron of FIG. 10;

FIG. 15 is a transverse cross section through the centreline of the pivot of the iron of FIG. 10;

FIG. 16 is a longitudinal section in an upright plane through the iron of FIG. 10;

FIG. 17 is a scrap section along line AA of FIG. 15 showing a straightening configuration, and

FIG. 18 is shows the view of FIG. 17 in a curling configuration.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1-9, a first embodiment of an electric hair styling iron 10 comprises a handle 11 having a convex cross-section and formed from upper and lower elongate shell mouldings 11 a, 11 b. A power cord (not shown) may extend from the end of the handle 11.

A first jaw 12 is rigidly fixed to the handle 11 and has flat inner surface 12 a and cylindrical outer surface 12 b. A second jaw 13, also having flat inner surface 13 a and cylindrical outer surface 13 b, is attached by a transversely extending pivot 190 to the handle 11 such that the inner faces 12 a, 13 a are facing one another. Both jaws 12, 13 are elongate and hollow, their distal ends being closed by tips 14, 15 respectively, made of thermally insulating material.

A hair waving clamp 16 has a clamp portion 16 a with concave cylindrical clamp face 16 b shaped to conform to the cylindrical face 13 b. The clamp 16 is attached by the pivot 190 to the handle 11. A lever portion 17 extends from the clamp portion 16 a to the opposite side of the pivot 190 such that pressing the lever portion 17 toward the handle 11 pivots the clamp face 16 b away from the first jaw 12, thereby either opening the jaws 12, 13 in a straightening configuration (FIG. 2) or else opening the clamp 16 in a curling configuration (FIG. 3). A torsion spring 22 is fixed to the handle 11 and located under the lever 17, biasing the lever 17 to close both the clamp 16 and second jaw 13.

The latch 40 extends through generally transversely aligned apertures 41, 42, 43 in the first jaw 12 (which is fixed to the handle 11), the second jaw 13 and the clamp 16 respectively. Likewise the pivot 190 extends through pivot-receiving openings 198 in the first jaw 12, the second jaw 13 and the clamp 16. The apertures 41, 42, 43 are offset longitudinally from the pivot 190 on the side of the handle 11. The apertures 41, 42, 43 receive the latch 40 in a sliding fit, the latch 40 being moveable transversely between a first position (FIGS. 1, 2 and 8) wherein second jaw 13 and clamp assembly 16 are locked together (the straightening configuration), and a second position (FIGS. 3 and 9) wherein the first and second jaws 12, 13 are locked together (the curling configuration).

The first jaw 12, second jaw 13 and clamp 16 include respective opposing flanges pairs 41 a/41 b, 42 a/42 b, 43 a/43 b through which the respective apertures 41, 42, 43 extend. The flanges on each side are adjacent one another, with the pivot 190 connecting them.

The apertures 43 in the outermost flanges 43 a/43 b of the clamp 16 are radially slotted (in the anti-clockwise direction as seen in FIG. 4) with the narrow slot portion 44 a opening into the wide portion 45 b. The aperture 41 in the intermediate flanges 41 a/41 b of the first jaw 12 are radially slotted (in the clockwise direction as seen in FIG. 4) with the narrow slot portion 44 b opening into the wide portion 45 b. The wide portions 45 a, 45 b have part-cylindrical surfaces of the same diameter as the aperture 42 in the innermost flanges 42 a, 42 b of the second jaw 13 and are complementary to the cylindrical outer face 47 of the latch 40.

The latch 40, as seen in FIG. 5, has an elongate bar-like form with buttons 46 a, 46 b abutting its opposing ends, each button having a flange 49 a, 49 b. The cylindrical outer face 47 extends between the flanges 49 and is interrupted by longitudinally spaced waists 48 a, 48 b and 48 c. At one end of face 47 the waist 48 a is separated from the flange 49 a by a land 50 a and at the other end waist 48 b is separated from waist 48 c by a land 50 b, while waist 48 c is adjacent flange 49 b. Buttons 46 a, 46 b of the latch 40 protrude from opposite sides of the handle 11 in the first and second positions allowing the buttons to be pressed manually in operation of the latch 40.

FIG. 6 illustrates the longitudinally extending electrical heating element 140 received within the pivoting second jaw 13.

The buttons 46 a, 46 b are received in semi-circular recesses in the handle shells 11 a, 11 b such that they are retained by the shoulders 49. Placing the latch 40 in the handle 11 allows it to be directly actuated by the user, while keeping her fingers safely clear of the jaws 12, 13 and clamp 16 which are hot during use.

As seen in FIG. 8, in the straightening configuration the button 46 a abuts flange 43 a, cylindrical face 47 is received in aperture 42 and with the lands 50 a, 50 b received in the apertures 43 so that the second jaw 13 and clamp 16 are latched together, whereas the flanges 41 a, 41 b are aligned with the waists 48 a, 48 b so as to allow the both the second jaw 13 and clamp 16 to pivot relative to the first jaw 12. In pivoting the waists 48 a, 48 b enter the narrow slot portions 44 b, abutting the ends thereof to limit the angular movement.

To move from the straightening configuration of FIG. 8 to the curling configuration of FIG. 9, the button 46 b is pressed to abut flange 43 b. In this position the aperture 41 in flanges 41 a and 41 b engage the cylindrical face 47 and land 50 b respectively, while the aperture 42 in flange 42 a engages the cylindrical face 47 to thereby latch the first and second jaws 12, 13 together. The flanges 43 a, 43 b are aligned with the waists 48 c and 48 a respectively so as to allow the clamp 16 to pivot relative to the first and second jaws 12, 13.

A second embodiment of an electric hair styling iron 100 is shown in FIGS. 10-18, and like numbers are used to refer to like components. Iron 100 comprises a handle 11 having a convex cross-section and formed from upper and lower elongate shell mouldings 11 a, 11 b. A power cord (not shown) may extend from the end of the handle 11.

A first jaw 12 is rigidly fixed to the handle 11 and has flat inner surface 12 a and cylindrical outer surface 12 b. A second jaw 13, also having flat inner surface 13 a and cylindrical outer surface 13 b, is attached by a transversely extending pivot 190 to the handle 11 such that the inner faces 12 a, 13 a are facing one another. Both jaws 12, 13 are elongate and hollow, their distal ends being closed by tips 14, 15 respectively, made of thermally insulating material.

A hair waving clamp 16 has a clamp portion 16 a with concave cylindrical clamp face 16 b shaped to conform to the cylindrical face 13 b. The clamp 16 is attached by the pivot 19 to the handle 11. A lever portion 17 extends from the clamp portion 16 a to the opposite side of the pivot 19 such that pressing the lever portion 17 toward the handle 11 pivots the clamp face 16 b away from the first jaw 12, thereby either opening the jaws 12, 13 in a straightening configuration (FIG. 11) or else opening the clamp 16 in a curling configuration (FIG. 12). A torsion spring 22 is fixed to the handle 11 and located under the lever 17, biasing the lever 17 to close both the clamp 16 and second jaw 13.

A locking mechanism includes a longitudinally moving slider 18 or actuating member on a side of the handle 11 adjacent its inner end. The slider 18 actuates the locking mechanism and also provides a detent, it is moveable between an outer position (FIGS. 10 and 11) wherein second jaw 13 and clamp assembly 16 are locked together (the straightening configuration), and an inner position (FIG. 12) wherein the first and second jaws 12, 13 are locked together (the curling configuration).

The pivot 19, as shown in FIG. 13, is substantially cylindrical with projecting key portions 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37 formed thereon. The key portions are symmetrically arranged in pairs 30/31, 32/33, 34/35, 36/37 the projections of each pair being on opposing sides of a central plane 20, the pairs being spaced apart longitudinally.

As shown in FIG. 14, the pivot 19 extends through apertures 24, 25, 26 in the first jaw 12 (which is fixed to the handle 11), the second jaw 13 and the clamp 16 respectively. The apertures 24, 25, 26 are configured to receive the pivot 19 in a sliding fit and have respective cylindrical faces 24 a, 25 a, 26 a and keyway portions 24 b, 25 b, 26 b on opposing sides of the central plane 20 for receiving the key portions 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37. Two stop pins 41 are held in an interference fit in apertures 43 in the jaw 12, and slidably received in part-annular slots 44, 45 in the second jaw 13 and clamp 16 respectively, for limiting the angular displacement of the jaw 13 and clamp 16.

Referring to FIGS. 15-18, in which the iron 10 is shown in the straightening configuration, the slider 18 is received in a slot in the handle 11. A compression spring 21 between the inner wall of the handle 11 and one end of the pivot 19 presses the opposite end of the pivot 19 to abut the slider 18.

FIG. 15 shows that the first jaw 12, second jaw 13 and clamp 16 are generally U-shaped in transverse section, the pivot-receiving aperture 24 extending through two flanges 12 a, 12 b of the first jaw 12, pivot-receiving aperture 25 extending through two flanges 13 a, 13 b of the second jaw 13, pivot-receiving aperture 26 extending through two flanges 16 a, 16 b of the clamp 16.

FIG. 16 illustrates the longitudinally extending electrical heating element 140 received within the pivoting jaw 13.

As best seen in FIG. 17, in the straightening configuration the spring is extended and the pivot 19 is in a first position wherein the key portions 30, 31, 36, 37 are received in the apertures 26 in the clamp 17, rotationally fixing the pivot 19 to the clamp 17. The key portions 32, 33, 34, 35 are received in the apertures 25 in the second jaw 13, likewise rotationally fixing the pivot 19 to the second jaw 13. Thus in this first position the key faces 30 a, 31 a, 36 a, 37 a on the pivot 19 engage the key faces 25 d, 26 d, 25 e, 26 e on the second jaw 13 and the clamp 17 for connecting the second jaw 13 and the clamp 17 together for pivoting relative to the first jaw 12.

The slider 18 has an inclined ramp face 41 which engages the end of the pivot 19 when the slider 18 is moved to its inner position, thereby displacing the pivot 19 to a second position shown in FIG. 9. In this manner slider 18 provides a detent for holding the pivot 19 in the first position or second position.

In the curling configuration of FIG. 18, the spring 21 is compressed and the pivot 19 is in the second position, the key portions 34, 35 are received in the aperture 24 in the flange 12 b of the first jaw 12. The key portions 32, 33 are received in both apertures 24 and 25 to span between flanges 12 a, 13 a of first and second jaws 12, 13. In this way the first and second jaws 12, 13 are rotationally fixed with the pivot 19. Thus in this second position the key faces 32 a, 33 a, 34 a, 35 a on the pivot 19 engage the key faces 24 d, 25 d, 24 e, 25 e on the first jaw 12 and second jaw 13 for fixing the first and second jaws together, while permitting relative pivoting of the clamp 16. When the user's thumb is released from the lever 17, the slider 18 is moved by the thumb for changing between the two configurations.

Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it should be appreciated that modifications and additions may be made thereto without departing from the scope thereof. 

1. A hair styling iron comprising: a handle; first and second elongate jaws extending from the handle and having respective inner and outer faces, the inner faces being of complementary shape and facing one another, at least one of the first and second jaws being heated; a clamp having a clamp face of complementary shape to, and presented toward, the outer face of the second jaw; a transversely-extending pivot connecting the second jaw and clamp to the first jaw for independent pivoting of the second jaw and the clamp relative to the first jaw and the handle; latch apertures in the first jaw, the second jaw and the clamp; a latch received in the latch apertures, the latch being moveable transversely between a first position and a second position, buttons on transversely opposing sides of the handle for moving the latch; wherein in the first position, the latch connects the second jaw and the clamp together for pivoting relative to the first jaw, and, in the second position, the latch connects the first and second jaws together, while permitting relative pivoting of the clamp.
 2. The iron of claim 1 wherein the apertures in the first jaw and the clamp are slotted, each aperture having a narrow portion opening into a wide portion, and the latch is elongate, having at least one waist which, in the first and second positions, may be received in the narrow portion of the aperture in the first jaw and the clamp, respectively.
 3. The iron of claim 2 wherein the latch has a cylindrical outer latch face and the aperture in the second jaw, and the wide portion of each slotted aperture has complementary cylindrical surfaces.
 4. The iron of claim 2 wherein the latch extends substantially parallel to the pivot on an opposite side of the pivot from the jaws.
 5. The iron of claim 1 wherein the inner faces of the jaws are substantially flat.
 6. The iron of claim 1 wherein the outer faces of the jaws are convex and the clamp face is concave such that with the pivot in the second position, hair wound about both jaws can be held against the jaws by the clamp for waving.
 7. A hair styling iron comprising: a handle; a first elongate jaw fixedly connected to the handle; a second elongate jaw enclosing an electric element, the first and second jaws having respective inner and outer faces, the inner faces being of complementary shape and facing one another, a clamp having a clamp face of complementary shape to, and presented toward, the outer face of the second jaw; a transversely-extending pivot connecting the second jaw and the clamp to the first jaw for independent pivoting of the second jaw and the clamp relative to the first jaw and handle; latch apertures in the first jaw, the second jaw and the clamp, the apertures in the first jaw and the clamp being slotted with having a narrow portion opening into a wide portion; an elongate latch extending substantially parallel to the pivot, the latch being slidably received in the latch apertures for transverse movement between a first position and a second position, the latch having at least one waist; first and second buttons on transversely opposing sides of the handle, whereby pressing the first or second button moves the latch to the first or second position, respectively, wherein in the first position, the latch connects the second jaw and the clamp together, and the waist may be received in the narrow portion of the aperture in the first jaw, allowing the second jaw and the clamp to pivot relative to the first jaw; and, in the second position, the latch connects the first and second jaws together, and the waist may be received in the narrow portion of the aperture in the clamp, allowing pivoting of the clamp relative to the first and second jaws. 